Conductors' careers are made for the most part with 'Romantic' music. 'Classic' music eliminates the conductor; we do not remember him in it.

We can neither put back the clock nor slow down our forward speed, and as we are already flying pilotless, on instrument controls, it is even too late to ask where we are going.

Music is...the coordination between man and time.

My God, so much I like to drink Scotch that sometimes I think my name is Igor Stra-whiskey.

All music is nothing more than a succession of impulses that converge towards a definite point of repose.

I knew I had to write a Mass of my own, but a real one.

My music is best understood by children and animals.